Back to the Future celebrates its 40th anniversary with three Marty McFlyers performing the musical | stage

Audiences of the West End musical Back to the Future will see three actors play Marty McFly in one evening next month.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original film release, two of the musical’s former lead actors, Ollie Dobson and Ben Joyce, will return to share the part with its current star, Caden Brauch, on December 3 at the Adelphi Theatre. The show will start with Joyce in the role of the time-traveling teenager before Brauch takes over in the middle section and Dobson finishes in the role. The three will then perform the final number, Back in Time, together.

“Originating the role of Marty is without a doubt the highlight of my career,” Dobson said. “To be back in his shoes for just one night is very exciting.” Dobson performed the part at the Manchester Opera House in 2020 and at the Adelphi in the 2021 West End premiere, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s very exciting to be back in this production,” Joyce said. “I’m so excited to perform alongside Ollie and Caden – it’s not often you get three Marties on one stage!” “Back to the Future” brought Dobson an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. Joyce received a WhatsOnStage Award nomination for Best Acquisition for his performance.

Brauch began in the role earlier this year. Gok Wan recently appeared as Director Strickland on the show to celebrate Back to the Future Day on October 21, the date on which Marty travels to the future in Back to the Future Part 2. The second part of the film uses deception to find Michael J. Fox sharing the screen with himself in a scene when Marty is about to clash with his future son.

Guest appearances at festive musicals provide audiences, often made up of die-hard fans, with a unique experience, as when five actors who have played Rafiki across Europe came together for the West End climax of The Lion King in 2024. Les Misérables celebrated its 40th birthday in October by bringing stars including Patti LuPone and Michael Ball on stage to sing the finale. Taking it a step further, Kerry Ellis, Louise Dearman and Rachel Tucker – who all played Elphaba in Wicked – will tour together next year with a Gravity concert featuring songs from their music careers, including Wicked.

When Back to the Future was released in 1985, The Hollywood Reporter declared: “The film isn’t just fun. It’s light-speed fun, a raucous time-travel adventure that’s likely to turn up some high-octane bucks at the box office.”